Polska duchowość i mistyka przeżyciowo-studyjna

Abstract

In the history of Polish spirituality and mysticism we can distinguish 6 periods: I. Years from the twelfth century to the seventieth century; II. The seventieth century; III. The eighteenth century and the half of the nineteenth century; IV. The second half of nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century (to 1914); V. The interwar period (1914-1939); VI. The contemporary times. The frst mystical treatise was the work of Henry Heidenreich De diligendo Deo. As a result of contact with Eastern spiritual literature, the mystical writing is developing. In the sixteenth century devotional mystically-contemplative trend was functioning in the form of prayers and texts for contemplation. The second period is the seventeenth century. It is the frst Polish “golden period of spirituality”. The ascetic-mystical writers with the European signifcance are in the conventual environments. The third period is the eighteenth century and the frst half of the nineteenth century. In the eighteenth century the decrease of works on the spiritual life is noticed. The reason is the infuence of anti-mystical tendencies from Spain, France, casuistry in the study of morality, Jansenism, rationalism. The fourth period consists of time from the half of nineteenth century and the beginning of twentieth century (to 1914). It is the second Polish “golden period of spirituality” and the most important for native spirituality. In this time some people- most women- were gifted with mystical mercy, and they left the notes from their experiences. The ffth period is inter war period (1914-1939). Because of great development of theology of spirituality and examinational and experiential mysticism, this period can be called the third Polish “golden period of spirituality”. The experiential mysticism, women’ mysticism was represented by St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) the greatest Polish mystic. A phenomenon of Polish spirituality is experiential mysticism of women, which signifcantly developed in the nineteenth and the twentieth century and in the contemporary times. Mystical life is a normal way of spiritual development. It is special way of experiencing the presence of God, when a human understands a direct His intervention in spiritual life. Mystical life is a normal and full development of given in the Sacrament of Cristian initiation sanctifying grace. The process of mystical life relies on the development of supernatural virtues, and mainly love, which leads to a total community with God. The communion with God performs in love. The last test of love to God is love to fellows. A lot of Polish mystics shaped and they still have been shaping the spiritual life of future generations, not only compatriots. Left for us precious “The diaries of souls” of experiential mysticism can be involved to “pearls” of mystical literature. At the same time, they present the message as an unusual spiritual gift directed to all Church.